Healthy holidays, because looking after yourself is important

Now more than ever, we know it's true: Health comes first. We suggest a trip where you can forget about schedules. A few healthy holidays devoted to looking after yourself, and enjoying the pause we all need. We want you to try it a different, more Spanish way, so we suggest discovering special therapies and treatments with products and techniques which are very “us”: extra virgin olive oil, wines, and aloe vera plants. Natural ways for a healthy balance.

Spain is a popular destination for health and wellness tourism, and healthy holidays offering a variety of experiences like:

• Thermal Spas & Thalassotherapy: The country has a wealth of natural thermal springs (called balnearios) and clinics specializing in thalassotherapy treatments.

• Wellness & Yoga Retreats: Numerous private companies and hotels offer dedicated detox, weight loss, yoga, and meditation retreats across various regions, including Andalusia and Catalonia.

• Sustainable Travel: The official tourism strategy also focuses on sustainable and responsible travel options, allowing visitors to connect with nature and support local communities while maintaining well-being.

Extra virgin olive oil, healthy inside and outside

It’s the star of the Mediterranean diet, and you probably already know how healthy it is as a culinary ingredient. But this liquid gold is also a valuable ally for your skin. Olive oil therapy techniques, such as relaxing massages, face masks and body treatments, moisturise and protect the skin. The main difference between olive oil and other oils is its high concentration of antioxidants, which enhances its relaxing effect and improves skin elasticity. You can enjoy this therapy using extra-virgin olive oil at many spas and wellness centres in Spain. There are more to choose from in the main olive-growing areas, like Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha and Catalonia. For example, in Jaén (Andalusia) you can complete the experience with visits to almazaras (the mills where oil is pressed from the olive), tastings and workshops.

• This practice is often associated with traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda), where it is known as Abhyanga. 

• Massages are known to relieve stress, reduce muscle tension and pain, improve blood circulation, and enhance sleep quality. 

• The technique involves slow movements and varying pressure to rebalance energy and promote overall well-being. 

• Various types of oil massages are available, often offered in spas and wellness centers. 

Vinotherapy, relaxation through the senses

A multisensory relaxation experience. That’s what wine and grape-based treatments can offer. From Instagram-friendly wine baths and toning wraps to exfoliation with grape seeds to deep-cleanse the skin. And often, accompanied by tastings of the local wines. These are totally natural treatments to relax your body, clear your mind, and awaken your senses one by one.La Rioja, Rioja Alavesa (Álava, Basque Country) and Ribera del Duero (Castile and Leon) are areas well-known in Spain for their excellent wines. They are probably also where you’ll find the most varied vinotherapy options.

Sensory Relaxation Elements:

• Sight: Often set in serene, vineyard-facing locations (like in La Rioja, Spain or Tuscany, Italy).

• Touch: Rhythmic, invigorating massages using grapeseed oil and warm, antioxidant-rich wraps.

• Smell: Fragrant treatments utilizing natural ingredients like crushed grapes, essential oils, and, in some cases, aromatherapy.

• Taste: Frequently paired with local wine tastings to complete the experience.

Key benefits include the high concentration of polyphenols (like resveratrol) found in grapes, which are believed to have antioxidant, anti-aging, and skin-regenerating properties. The practice originated in France and is popular in major wine regions, designed to calm the nervous system and offer a "natural" escape.

Aloe vera and the Canary Islands, a perfect pairing

As a soap, as a gel, as a cream, or even as a juice… aloe vera is one of the most fashionable natural therapy discoveries of recent years, and the Canary Islands are among the main producers. The reasons? The permanent spring-like temperatures, the many hours of sunshine, and the volcanic landscape that encourages it to grow. These qualities make the destination the perfect place to find the calm you’re looking for.Did you know that all the Canary Islands, except La Graciosa, have spas and wellness centres? There are more than 30 overall. Can you imagine lying in the sunshine, with views of the sea, enjoying a comfortable 22 degrees Celcius, and discovering the benefits of aloe vera? Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria are the islands growing the most aloe vera, and it’s easy to visit an organic farm and learn about its calming, healing and regenerating properties.

Benefits & Uses

• Skin Care: The gel from the inner leaf is primarily used topically to moisturize skin, soothe sunburns, and promote wound healing.

• Digestive Health: When consumed as juice, processed from the whole leaf, aloe vera can help alleviate acid reflux, indigestion, and constipation by soothing the digestive tract.

• Overall Wellness: It contains antioxidants that may boost the immune system, help regulate blood sugar, and offer anti-inflammatory effects.

In the end, a truly great holiday isn’t just about where you go, but how you feel while you’re there. Taking care of your body and mind allows you to enjoy every experience more deeply – from quiet mornings to adventurous days. By making health a priority, you return home not just with memories, but with renewed energy and balance that last long after the trip ends.